On Tuesday, the Obama administration released the final version of its landmark fuel-economy standards. The new standards would boost fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon for the average car by 2025 – almost double what it is today!
According to the LA Times, these new fuel standards are part of a lengthy campaign by the administration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil consumption. Building on that same campaign, the administration initially sought to get fuel standards to 35 mpg by the end of the 2016 model year. The latest standards would be phased in starting with the 2017 model year.
“These fuel standards represent the single most important step we’ve ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said President Obama. “This historic agreement builds on the progress we’ve already made to save families money at the pump and cut our oil consumption.”
Automakers are apparently welcoming the new standards. “We all want to get more fuel-efficient autos on our roads,” said Gloria Bergquist of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, an industry lobbying group. “And a single, national program with a strong midterm review helps us get closer to that shared goal.”